Performance and slaughter characteristics of broiler chickens fed different sources of maggot meal

Abstract

In this study, the effect of three different sources of maggot meals was conducted to evaluate the performance and slaughter characteristics of broiler chickens. Five diets were formulated to include Diet 1 (control) which contained 3.5 % fish meal, while Diets 2, 3 and 4 contained 3.5% maggot meal from broiler droppings (BMM),maggot meal from layers droppings (LMM) and maggot meal from rabbit faeces (RMM) respectively. Eighty (80) dayold unsexed Marshall Broilers were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD). Thedietary treatments had 20 birds each with two (2) replicates. Data were generated on proximate analysis and performance indices including feed intake and weight gain, slaughter characteristics and mortality rate. They were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means significantly different were separated using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% probability level. Results from proximate analysis showed that maggots from layer droppings had the highest crude protein and ether extract. Results on performance indices showed that birds fed on diet 3 (layer maggot meal) had significantly (P<0.05) best performance than others as regards feed intake. Layer maggot meal (LMM) in this study enhanced bestproductive performance compared to those from broiler and rabbit maggot.Birds fed layer maggot meal had the best (1.85) feed conversion ratio. They also had the best body weight gain (2501g) and feed intake (4627g). In conclusion, layer maggot meal is recommended as analternative animal protein source to expensive fish meal.